Review of Whatever Works (2009) by Very S — 30 Apr 2010

The great Woody Allen has zillions of times incorporated profound neurosis, persistent thanatophobia (fear of death), awkward age-gap relationships, and self-centered philosophies in most of his quirky movie narratives. So why would he threw us a curve ball in his latest New York-based splendid comedy "Whatever Works"? You know what they say= if whatever works, don't fix it. OK, maybe not in those same exact words, but you know what I am punning about. So let me tell you what definitely works the most for me in "Whatever Works"= that would be Larry Davis' hilarious starring turn as the egocentric self-proclaimed genius Boris Yellnikoff. He is a lifelong New York resident who does not hesitate to indulge in "yellnikoffing" his viewpoints on religion, relationships, and dumbness to just about any person he encounters including you the viewer. Boris' life takes a turn for the unexpected when he meets the young Mississippi runaway Melody played by the beautiful Evan Rachel Wood. Melody soon moves in with Boris, and before you can say "odd pairing" the two end up marrying. I guess Evan Rachel Wood just loves the "odd pairing" concept, she is engaged to controversial non-melodic rocker Marilyn Manson. I guess "whatever works" for Evan and her character Melody. Even though Boris still grumbles about people's cerebral challenges and has sporadic spurts with thanatophobia, he is living a somewhat satisfied life with Melody. That is until the melodic chain is broken by Melody's religious zealot mother Marietta who finds her daughter in New York in shock of her marital status. Initially, Marietta despises Boris to the core but then Marietta gets marinated by the liberalism of New York, and ends up involved in a bizarre love triangle arrangement by living with two male lovers. Patricia Clarkson's performance as Marietta was divine. Ed Begley Jr. plays Melody's father John, he arrives in New York to find that her daughter is married to a much older man, and his ex-wife is living with two men. Those living arrangements do not "whatever work" for Dear John, so he goes into desperation mode himself. Veteran character actor Ed Begley Jr. also provides some effective supporting work as John. Even though it did have some narrative subplots that felt a bit contrived, Allen has helmed & scribed yet another comedic insightful film with some classic verbose. "Whatever Works" might not work for you if you are not a Woody Allen fan, but it does workout to be quite a thrill for us Woodynerds!

**** Good.